WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST¹

Abstract

ABSTRACT. The water resources manager, concerned with providing for citizen needs for water in all its varied aspects, is obliged to consider the public interest in his decision making. But the public interest, although inferring the superiority of public over purely private interests, is more of a concept of political ethics than an operational objective. Recent attacks on water resources developments place in question just how responsive the water resources manager has been to the public at large during the planning process. The recent broadening of planning objectives beyond economic efficiency to include greater attention to social goals is an encouraging development. Efforts should be expanded toward greater citizen participation and more attention should be given to sampling surveys to determine citizen attitudes on water resources proposals. In the last analysis, the decision‐making process must combine the expertise of the water resources manager and the participation of the people through the political process.

IDENTIFICATION OF TRAINING NEEDS FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION RESPONSIBILITIES1

“…For citizen participation activities to genuinely reflect the needs of a wide range of people, it is important that a balanced viewpoint be maintained, that conflicting interests be compromised, and that no interest be allowed to "bulldoze" the others (Curran, 1971). In view of the fact that this situation can occur if very vocal citizens sway a public meeting and thus not accurately reflect the actual diversity of views, respondents were asked to rate the importance of being able to conduct public meetings.…”